- Cragin, founded in the Cragin neighborhood on Chicago`s Northwest Side, converted from a federally chartered mutual savings bank to a publicly traded consumer bank last June. Cragin raised $105 million in the initial public offering, selling all 10.5 million shares to staff and customers.

- Cragin`s first year as a public company saw net earnings rise to $26.4 million, up from $8.9 million the previous year. Shareholders who bought the stock at $10 have been well rewarded; it closed May 1 at $22.37.

- Cragin, the third-largest savings institution in Illinois, serves northwest Chicago and west and northwest suburbs with 28 full-service offices. Cragin plans to expand its service area, and may also make acquisitions. It recently bought the deposits and office of Western Savings and Loan Association`s Lawrence Avenue branch in Chicago`s Jefferson Park neighborhood. The bank plans to continue the conservative lending policies that have resulted in a below-average rate of non-performing loans.